Monday, July 30, 2012

The Cal Poly, Team Phoenicia and Tyvak, oh my! Q&A over the press release

Blatantly stolen from here. We're working on updated one because we loved it.

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We've
had a number of questions over the past week. They've run a gamut of
topics, but they, by and large, boil down to one thing. What does that
press release mean? Can you use nonPR english? We grinned and thought,
"sure!"

1. What does the it mean to collaborate like it says?

1a.
It means that every time that Team Phoenicia launches its landers
towards the moon, Cal Poly and Tyvak will be buying excess mass and
volume for deploying lunar and interplanetary cubesats.

2. Interplanetary cubesats? Excuse me?

2a. This is best covered by a video presented by NASA JPL's Robert Staelhe based on a study down under the aspises of NIAC:

3. Isn't a bit early to be talking interplanetary cubesats? They have some time to mature as yet.

3a. They do, but in one case they've already flown an important bit of hardware.
The cost of cubesat based space probes is so much less that if they
build a little, test a little, fly a little, and even fail a little, the
entire development cost will be far, far less than even a discovery
mission.

8a.
Team Phoenicia is pursuing the Google Lunar X PRIZE. Our first launch
will be pursuant of that goal. We will NOT be stopping with the GLXP.
We want to launch as often as we can and place payloads on the moon.
Every time we go, Tyvak and Cal Poly will go. This opens up
interplanetary space to cubesat derived probes, etc.

9. Will Cal Poly and Tyvak be willing to work with other teams?

9a.
No. And yes. Cal Poly and Tyvak are exclusively with Team Phoenicia
for launching payloads for the Google Lunar X PRIZE. They will not be
working with other teams to place cubesats on their flights. However,
if there is a piece of $tech that is for sale on their website or
whatnot, they are more than welcome to sell it. If there is a question
regarding a grey area, the parties will consult.

10.
Are there other slots available for a small sat in the Legion System
with Phoenicia's lander and the cubesat PPODs in place?

10a.
Yes, there is. The cylindrical volume you see below in the video
deploying is an unnamed or open slot. We have groups negotiating for
the slot. We hope to announce the first group that has signed on in the
near future. However, this is a long term coalition, not just a one
off. We are going to have slots available over the next decade that are
not always going to be filled. Contact us to discuss costs and
requirements.